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Facebook Now Has Quick Delete Account Option?

- By - Source : Tom's Guide US

There are reports that Facebook introduced a quick way to delete an account.

Recent reports are indicating that Facebook has quietly introduced a Delete Account option for users wanting to quickly bail out on the social website. Rather than listed as "Deactivate Account" in the profile settings, the option now supposedly reads as "Deactivate or Delete Account."

This writer did not see such an option in the account settings to confirm the report.

Previously Facebook provided an extended means to delete an account, allowing users to simply remove their page from the database, locking out other Facebook users via account deactivation. This gave users the option of changing their minds before wiping their entire library of photos and comments from Facebook forever.

"If you want to reactivate at some point, we do save your profile information (friends, photos, interests, etc.), and your account will look just the way it did when you deactivated if you decide to reactivate it," the company said. "Many users deactivate their accounts for temporary reasons and expect their information to be there when they return to the service."

But for those who still wished to nuke their profiles (or parents wanting to remove their children from Facebook), the website provided a deletion request found on this page. Apparently the new method bypasses this long and drawn-out process by providing the new fast-track option.

Now here's the kicker: Facebook's terms of service allows the site to keep your information once it's been assimilated into its collective. "We may retain certain information to prevent identity theft and other misconduct even if deletion has been requested," Facebook's Privacy Policy reads. "Removed and deleted information may persist in backup copies for up to 90 days, but will not be available to others."

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chickenhoagie 07/27/2010 12:38 PM
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"We may retain certain information to prevent identity theft and other misconduct even if deletion has been requested,"


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to prevent identity theft..pssh, doubt that.

Nightskeeter 07/27/2010 12:53 PM
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"We may retain certain information to prevent identity theft and other misconduct even if deletion has been requested,"

Laughs. If you get your Identity stolen on FACEBook, you shouldn't use a computer. Last time I checked, they would need your social security number.

Only silly people type that online.

And only, well.. Brainless people would GIVE it out to people.


I to, think they are hiding the real truth behind it.

Hovaucf 07/27/2010 1:06 AM
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Your identity can be stolen with much less than your ss#, such as your name & dob which i'm sure many facebook users have listed.

opmopadop 07/27/2010 1:18 AM
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Erm, why is this hiding in tiny font in this story :

"Marcus Yam; great articles."

adikos 07/27/2010 1:45 AM
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/push

d-block 07/27/2010 2:47 AM
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yay

tu_illegalamigo 07/27/2010 2:53 AM
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It`s that damn NSA again, with Martians and Kennedy`s assassins thrown in as well. I hope they just keep your info in order to sell you more shit since facebook info is passed around so much, not that they`re building a "file" on me. /hope

bloodymaze 07/27/2010 4:24 AM
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Facebook --> Fail. Sorry I hate it, it's turned into a teenager haven and got ruined from all the damn games they try to put on there, its more about farmville, yoville, ville ville ville etc than networking now.

p05esto 07/27/2010 5:01 AM
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Facebook/Twitter please die already, your time is over...move on, go get a real life.

idisarmu 07/27/2010 6:03 AM
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Hey guys! Tomshardware blocks your SIN number! See: ****************

/sarcasm. Like the others said: only idiots get their identities stolen.

Clintonio 07/27/2010 1:18 PM
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Facebook is Fail.

I used the slow delete; I'm happier for it. I love life disconnected. It means I have choice over my connections, rather than being peer pressured into them.

silentq 07/27/2010 2:19 PM
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this option should've been available to users from the beginning... common sense to me...

azconnie 07/27/2010 4:45 PM
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p05esto :
Facebook/Twitter please die already, your time is over...move on, go get a real life.



I have been saying this since the inception of myspace. Personally, I think that thinking people should get together and petition to have this crap banned.

jodrummersh 07/27/2010 8:11 PM
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I wonder if we have any way of verifying the permanent deletion of our info etc after the 90 days?

jodrummersh 07/27/2010 8:18 PM
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I don't see the quick delete function on there...what the hell?

jodrummersh 07/27/2010 8:27 PM
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So where exactly were these "recent reports" that you based your article on? And why did you still write the piece when you didn't see the option on Facebook yourself? BAH! Got my hopes up.

eddieroolz 07/28/2010 3:30 AM
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I feel so bad knowing that 3 years of my data belongs to facebook.